News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
MARCH 24, 2023
Updated January 26, 2023
The Weekly will take a spring break on March 31st. We'll be back on April 7th.
DISTRICT NEWS
We are excited to share and invite your feedback on Version 1 (v1) of the Skokie District 73.5 Strategic Plan!
Please visit sd735.org/strategic-planning for more information and links to the Version 1 Strategic Plan document and the v1 Strategic Plan Feedback Form. The Feedback Form is open until March 31st. The document and the form can be Google translated into several languages.
Summer School will be in session from Wednesday, June 7th through Thursday, June 30th at Middleton Elementary School, 8300 St. Louis Avenue. The program is from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday through Thursday (no classes on Fridays). The ELA/Reading class runs from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and the Math class runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Tuition for this year’s summer school will be free. If you are the parent or guardian of a student who has been recommended for summer school and is entering grades 1-8 in the fall, you have received an email with registration information. Please reach out to one of our Summer School contacts with any questions:
- Marty Behm at 847-676-8234 or [email protected]
- Stephanie Larenas at 847-676-8085 or [email protected]
All registrations are due no later than May 12th.
5Essentials Survey
Teachers, families, and students across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of our schools. To take the survey please visit survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois and click the "Parent Survey" to begin. There are 21 questions and the survey should take approximately 10 minutes. If you have multiple children and they attend more than one school in our district, please complete the survey once for each school.
Your participation in the parent survey will help us better understand our schools and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. The state of Illinois now uses the results of the survey to determine our official school designation at Middleton and McCracken, which is reported on the yearly Illinois School Report Card. If at least 20 percent of families complete this survey, a supplemental report will be generated for each school and will be publicly available. This will allow us to access your valuable feedback.
Department of Student Services
The Seventeenth Annual Statewide Summit for Bilingual Parents: A Conference for Members of Bilingual Parent Advisory Councils (BPACs) and Parents of English Learners (ELs) is Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois. This is an in-person event. Registration is available now. Please contact Lyla Nissan at [email protected] if you would like to attend.
NTDSE Around Town
Check the Niles Township District for Special Education (NTDSE) Parent Events Monthly Update for information about April programs.
Join the NTDSE Parent Group for a presentation about behavior on Thursday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. Check the attached flyer for more information and the registration link.
Taste of 73.5
TASTE OF 73.5 IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13th! The PTO invites families to help write the Taste of Skokie 73.5 Cookbook. Families can submit multiple recipes either electronically or via a paper submission form. Paper submission forms will be sent home soon. Both the electronic and paper forms will be available on the PTO website.
School Year Calendars
The Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 School Year Calendars at their March 14th Meeting. For the most up-to-date school calendars at all times, please view and bookmark them on our website:
- 2022-2023: sd735.org/files/calendars/2223/school/current.pdf
- 2023-2024: sd735.org/files/calendars/2324/school/current.pdf
- 2024-2025: sd735.org/files/calendars/2425/school/current.pdf
All calendars of events, holidays, non-attendance days, and meals are always available on our website at sd735.org/calendar.
Fee Waivers
Skokie School District 73.5 waives school fees for eligible families. A "waiver" means that students will not be charged registration fees, school activity/club fees, or field trip fees. A fee waiver application must be completed to receive a waiver, and only one application is required per year. If you have any questions concerning fee waiver eligibility or the application process please contact Karen Hayes in the Business Office at [email protected] or by phone at 847-676-8317.
SD73.5 Priorities
Welcoming Environment. All students, staff, parents, and community members will feel welcome in our District.
Hiring & Retention. Our community's diversity will be represented in our staff and we will create systems to ensure we retain our staff.
Instruction. We will accelerate learning for all students through a strengths-based approach to grow each student from where they are.
Get the (TEXT) Message!
PARENTS, GUARDIANS & STAFF! Snap the QR code or text Y or YES to 67587 to authorize SMS text messages from SD73.5 to your mobile device!
PTO News
APRIL PTO MEETING
Monday, April 3rd
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
Elections will be held
SAVE THE DATES!
April 22nd
Earth Day Celebrations
May 13th
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Taste of Skokie 73.5
McCRACKEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The 8th Grade End-of-Year Celebration Committee is looking for parent volunteers for the decorating team and to chaperone the event on Saturday, May 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sign up to volunteer and help celebrate this amazing 8th Grade class.
Work with Us!
Around Town
McCracken SOAR Art Show
McCracken is well represented at this year's Student Outstanding Artist Recognition (SOAR) Art Show, currently on display at the Oakton Community College Skokie Campus, 7701 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie. Twenty-six works created by 25 McCracken students are on display now through April 4th. The Artist's Reception is scheduled on March 13th from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Meyer and Middleton also have displays of wonderful, original works of art.
Student Council Spring Hangout
The Student Council is hosting a Spring Hangout! The Spring Hangout will be after school from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 6th! There will be an open gym for basketball and volleyball. There will also be music, food, games, and more set up in the hallways! The snack table will be raising money for the 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration! We hope our students can join us for an afternoon of fun! All students must have a signed permission form to enter the event. Please communicate dismissal plans with your child if they are attending and indicate that plan on the form. See this flyer for more information.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) testing for Math and English Language Arts will begin at McCracken on April 10th and continue daily through April 13th. The IAR is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. IAR assesses the New Illinois Learning Standards incorporating the Common Core and will be administered in English Language Arts and Mathematics to all students in grades 3-8.
As with all testing days, students are encouraged to get a good night's rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive to McCracken on time with both a charged Chromebook and, if possible, earbuds. Students will learn more about their daily schedules from their teachers closer to the testing dates.
Yearbooks on Sale
The 2022-2023 McCracken yearbook is now on sale. The yearbook staff is hard at work making a fun and creative book for our students. The cost of the yearbook is $20. Students will receive an order form from their advisor. Orders can be placed through the order form or directly online.
To order a yearbook online go to:
- ybpay.lifetouch.com
- use the Yearbook ID Code: 13556323
- orders are due by: April 3, 2023
7th Grade Camp MacLean Information
We are coming up on the Camp MacLean RSVP due date of April 7th! The trip to Burlington, Wisconsin is planned for May 17th-19th, so we really need to hear from the families whose students will be attending. Please respond to this interest form no later than April 7th to allow us to start planning for camp!
Student Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
- Please drive slowly and carefully when picking up or dropping off students.
- 6th Grade parents dropping off by Door 12 should pull all the way over to the curb on the right and quickly and safely allow their child to exit the vehicle so other cars can continue to Circle Drive. Please use your hazards to alert cars behind you.
- Please do not make U-turns on East Prairie. Use the McCracken Circle Drive to turn around.
Students cannot cross the Circle Drive in front of cars to get into a vehicle parked on the street. Drivers must pull into the Circle Drive to maintain safety and drop off in the right lane only. - Students must cross the intersection of Crawford and Oakton assisted by our crossing guards for their safety. Students are not allowed to cross East Prairie and Oakton without an adult before or after school.
- Please be sure to communicate with your child about their after-school plans before school. Are they walking home, taking the bus, or staying after school for sports or a club?
Extracurricular Programming
Here at McCracken, we are proud to offer a variety of student athletic and enrichment programs. These programs allow students to exercise their strengths, tackle areas of growth, and socialize with peers. Be sure to sign up your student for one of our great extracurricular activities clubs or activities! Review the 2022 Extracurricular Slideshow (with videos and important links) and Brochure for information, registration links, and the payment link (for a small number of activities).
More from McCracken
TAP THE SUN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
STOCK THE STAFF LOUNGE!
Drop off bagged snacks, drinks, K-Cups, tea, hot chocolate packets, candy, mints, and more to the school office throughout the year so we can show staff our support.
Dates to Remember
March 24th
Student Hornet Hangout
March 27th-31st
Spring Break
April 6th
Student Council Spring Hangout
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
April 10th-13th
IAR Testing
April 12th
Grecian Kitchen 8th Grade Dine Out Fundraiser
Please check our public calendar on the district website for athletic game times and locations.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (Grades 3-5)
Students in grades 3-5 will be taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) after spring break. This IAR is federally mandated assessment that helps us gain more insight into how students are performing overall.
This year, our 3rd and 4th grade students will test on April 11th-13th. Our 5th grade students will test on April 11th, 13th, and 14th. To be prepared for testing, students are encouraged to:
- Bring headphones or earbuds to school
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast
If you have any questions, please reach out to Middleton Assessment Coordinator Ms. Stephanie Larenas.
Kids Heart Challenge
Our students did great with the Kids Heart Challenge. We are excited to let you know we raised close to $10,000 for Finn’s mission, a fundraiser to raise awareness and support for childhood heart disease.
Middleton Student Art
We're wrapping up Youth Arts Month with a gallery of original works from the Middleton Art Room! Click or tap a piece to view the gallery: 2nd grade black light reactive jellyfish (made using materials from a Caring Hearts Grant!) • 1st grade self portraits with custom-mixed skin tones • 2nd grade metallic robots demonstrating symmetry • 5th grade woven optical illusions • 2nd grade "heart art" • 5th grade ceramic cupcake sculptures.
More from Middleton
TAP THE SUN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
Dates to Remember
March 24th
Rainbow Celebration
- STAFF: Purple
- 5th: Blue
- 4th: Green
- 3rd: Yellow
- 2nd: Orange
- 1st: Red
March 27th-31st
Spring Break
April 11th-13th
3rd & 4th Grade IAR Testing
April 11th, 13th & 14th
5th Grade IAR Testing
Save the Dates: Kindergarten Music “Informances” in May
What is an Informance? An informance is a way to inform parents of what a typical music class is like. It is similar to a performance in that there is an audience, but instead of rehearsing set pieces, the students demonstrate what they do during music class. The setting is smaller and more intimate than a larger performance. Parents see first-hand how their child experiences music at Meyer School!
WHEN:
- Ms. Solomon’s class: Tuesday, May 2nd at 11:00 a.m.
- Ms. Cruz and Ms. Douglas’ class: Tuesday, May 2nd at 1:00 p.m.
- Ms. Huynh’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 9:00 a.m.
- Ms. Siegler’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:30 a.m.
- Ms. LaBarbera’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 12:00 p.m.
Each Informance will last approximately 25 minutes. Seating is limited so we ask that each child invites a maximum of 2 adults. We hope to see you there!
Please see the flyer for more information.
Preschool Screenings for 2023-2024
We are offering preschool developmental screenings for the 2023-2024 school year on April 26th and 27th for District 73.5 families. If you are interested in having your child considered for the Discount Preschool Tuition Program, or if you have concerns about your preschool-aged child’s development, please sign up for a screening appointment or snap the QR code. 
View our 2023-2024 Preschool Presentation for more information about the program.
If you have neighbors and friends who have children turning 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, 2023, please help us spread the word!
SOAR Art Exhibit
Congratulations to our kindergarten artists whose artwork is displayed at the Skokie Fine Arts Commission’s Student Outstanding Artists Recognition (SOAR) Exhibition in honor of Youth Arts Month. Thank you to Meyer's art/music teacher, Mrs. Castellini, for her hard work with our Meyer Shining Stars. We hope you will stop by to visit the exhibit and support our young artists!
SOAR Art Exhibit
Oakton Community College Atrium Lobby
7701 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie
Park in the lot closest to Lincoln Avenue and enter through Door 21
Through April 4, 2023
Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Meyer Moments
More from Meyer
TAP THE SUN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
Dates to Remember
March 27th-31st
Spring Break
April 11th
Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
April 20th
Meyer Parent Leaders Meeting
7:00 to 8:00 pm
April 26th-27th
Preschool Screenings
(Discounted Tuition Program)
April 27th
Meyer Family Sing-Along with Miss Carole
6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
May 1st-5th
Staff Appreciation Week
May 2nd
Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
May 2nd-3rd
Kindergarten Music Days
(classroom performances for families during the school day)
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.